Prime Minister issued with a "conditional offer of fixed penalty" for not wearing seatbelt

The Prime Minister's been issued with a "conditional offer of fixed penalty" by Lancashire Constabulary for failing to wear a seatbelt while filming a social media clip in the back of a moving car.

Lancashire Constabulary have said a 42-year-old man from London was issued with a conditional offer of fixed penalty following a video circulating on social media showing a passenger not wearing a seatbelt in a moving car in the county.

In a statement, the force said:

"You will be aware that a video has been circulating on social media showing an individual failing to wear a seatbelt while a passenger in a moving car in Lancashire.

"After looking into this matter, we have today (Friday, January 20) issued a 42-year-old man from London with a conditional offer of fixed penalty."

Downing Street previously said the Prime Minister, 42, had made a "brief error of judgment" by removing the safety device as he promoted his levelling up funding in an Instagram video when he visited Lancashire on Thursday.

Downing Street declined to comment further, after Lancashire Police said it was looking into Rishi Sunak after the Prime Minister apologised for failing to wear a seatbelt while filming a social media clip in the back of a moving car.

The spokesman for the Prime Minister told reporters:

"It was a mistake and he's apologised and thinks it's important to do so as people should wear their seatbelt."

He said he was not going to get ahead of any process and declined to be drawn on what steps the police might take next.

Asked if the police would be wasting their time looking into the issue, as Blackpool MP Scott Benton suggested, the spokesman said: "It's entirely a matter for the police where they allocate resources."

Asked if the Prime Minister would apologise publicly, he said: "I'm here speaking on behalf of the Prime Minister."